At the Central Region Seminar, I suggested that you go back to your Guild or Studio and try the Design game
yourself. Several of you asked for the Design Categories and the terms listed in each category. Here they are.
Change Categories or add options as you like. Jette
DESIGN GAME CATEGORIES – based on Ann Sutton’s book Ideas in Weaving
Take 7 cards. Discard the one you like the least. Switch one with another card in same category. Use these 6 cards
to help you design a piece of original cloth.
Design Categories:
Bag 1. Fibre
Use handspun
Make your own non-spun yarn
Use non-conventional fibre
Use fancy yarns
Use two yarns of very different thicknesses
Use ribbon
Use overtwist yarn
Use chenille
Use rags
Use more than one fibre
Include Lurex/metallic
Use silk
Use linen only
Use worsted wool only
Use synthetics only
Use tow linen
Use sewing polycotton thread
Use wool only
Use Tencel and silk mixed
Use stainless steel
Use boucle
Use straw
Use bark or tree fibre
New Zealand flax
Thick and thin
Use Navajo plied yarn
Use singles yarn
Use hemp
Use seacell
Use reed
Scoured fleece
Spin in the fleece
Use commercially prepared yarn
2. General Design
Incorporate floats in warp and weft
Small overall check
Large scale design
Base on a traditional tartan pattern
Base the design on patchwork pattern
Regular spots
Incorporate holes (lace or otherwise)
Diagonal emphasis
Narrow warp stripes
Striped
Small geometric pattern
Large check
Base design on a grid
Seersucker effect
To look ancient or faded
Colour and weave
Straight lines
Curved lines
Diagonal lines
Positive/negative space
Texture
Miniature
Overlap blocks of colour
Mosaic design
Geometric design
Sequential pattern movement
Inlaid design
Netting
Grid pattern
Spirals
Golden Ratio
Golden Spiral
Golden Mean
Fibonacci series
Stripes in different lengths
Use positive/negative
Seashell pattern
Swirls
Squares
Entrelac
Lace knitting
Aran knitting
Fairisle patterning
3. Spinning Technique
Hand spindle
Support Spindle
Worsted spun
Woolen spun
Spun cotton
Spun thick and thin
Few twists per inch
Overtwist
Long draw
Short draw
Use Charka
Felting
Use hand cards
Use a drum carder
Spin from locks
Spin from batt
Spin from roving
Spin lace weight yarn
Spin medium weight yarn
Spin chunky yarn
Spin using a wheel
Navajo Ply
Spin using a thigh technique
Spin using a distaff
Make 2-ply
Make boucle
4. Weaving Technique
Not more than 4 shafts
8 shafts
Two warp beams
Two shafts only
Use double cloth in areas
Herringbone twill
Overshot
Fancy Twill
Tabby
Combine two weaves
Undulating twill
Use satin weave
Block weave using one shuttle
Block weave using two shuttles
Lace weave
Warp faced
Not more than 6 epi
Not less than 30 epi
Space dented
Honeycomb
Transparency
Doupe Leno
Double weave
Crackle
Summer and winter
Weft dominant
Warp dominant
Plain weave
Advancing twill
Huck
Bronson
Coiling
Braiding
Basketry
5. Colour
Dye the warp
One colour only
Use black as an outline
Close tone (value) colours only
Grey scale only
Use bright colours on a white background
Rich dark colours
Use shades and varieties of white only
Use different hues, same value
Use one colour, many values
Use some bright, some dark colours
Very bright colours only
Very pale colours only
Natural dye
Chemical dye
Black and white only
Two colours only
Use a dominant, subdominant and 2 accents
Use value scale gradation – high value at one end, low at other
Use bright to dull hue gradation
Tetrad,
Split complementary
Hexad
Accentuated neutral
Monochromatic
Analogous
Cool colours only
Warm colours only
Ikat dye
Tie dye
Shibori
Use some space-dyed yarn
6. Embellishment
Use cut fringes in the weave
Padded areas
Transparent
Weave tucks
Stitch the cloth in squares
Use beads
Weave narrow strips and sew together
Use kumihimo
Hand stitched buttonholes
Handmade buttons
Rolled hem
Crochet trim
Bobbin lace inserts
Pleats
Add inkle bands
Danish Medallions
Spanish eyelet
Mexican Leno
Philippine edge
Braided edge
Tassels
Beads
Cross stitch design
Embroidery added
Knitted trim
Add silver findings
Finger weaving
Outline design
Use seashells
Mirrors
Amulets
Use appliqué technique
Sequins
Feathers
Include embroidery
Ethnic stitching
Needle felt
7. Finishing
Mangle – hand or machine
Design cloth to be pleated
Hard press with hot iron
Knot ends
Hemstitch ends
Use fancy knotting technique in piece
Cut it – distress it
Wash in hot, hot water
Brush it
Cut and re-stitch the cloth
Wet finish
Felt
Full
Brush
Collapse
Differential shrinkage
Machine sewn
Hand sewn
No sewing
Braiding
Collapse
Seersucker
Wadmal
Use button closure
Use tied closure
Article made from one piece fabric
Article made from pieced fabric
Gallery installation
Garden sculpture